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2018-01-04 13:30:03

KO

Coca-Cola

$46.19

0.745 (1.64%)

13:30

01/04/18

01/04

13:30

01/04/18

13:30

In the money call buying in Coke as shares advance

In the money call buying in Coke as shares advance. The stock up 74c to $46.18 and Jan 44s trade across the exchanges midday Thursday from $1.97 to 2.25 per contract. Customers are buying to open, according to data from ISE. Nearly 22K now traded against 5.5K open interest and the market is now $2.27 to 2.28. The contract is $2.18 ITM and expiring two weeks from tomorrow. Earnings not due again until mid-Feb.

16

Feb

KOCoca-Cola

$46.19

0.745 (1.64%)

11/20/17

SUSQ

11/20/17DOWNGRADETarget $51SUSQNegative

Monster Beverage downgraded to Negative at Susquehanna

As previously reported, Susquehanna analyst Pablo Zuanic downgraded Monster Beverage (MNST) to Negative from Neutral citing its high valuation, which he believes is misplaced due to assumptions about an offer from Coca-Cola (KO). He also argues consensus does not reflect a likely top-line slowdown and negative profit margin mix issues. Zuanic lowered his price target to $51 from $56 on Monster Beverage shares.

BMO Capital analyst Amit Sharma says Coca Cola management's investor day presentation outlines structural and operational changes designed to accelerate the shift to faster-growing, non-sparkling categories and capture more of the "Non Alcoholic Ready to Drink" market growth. Sharma also notes that scale benefits and continued contributions from the higher-profit sparkling business can help offset the margin dilution from the shift. Sharma is keeping his Market Perform rating and $47 price target, saying that despite the positive changes outlined, the company's ability to consistently beat long-term EPS goals has not changed.

12/13/17

DBAB

12/13/17INITIATIONTarget $52DBABBuy

Coca-Cola initiated with a Buy at Deutsche Bank

Deutsche Bank analyst Steve Powers started Coca-Cola with a Buy rating and $52 price target. The analyst sees the company's prospects inflecting positive after years of strategic repositioning. Coca-Cola is determined to win across all beverages, the analyst contends.

12/27/17

JEFF

12/27/17NO CHANGEJEFF

Nielsen shows improved two-week sales trends, says Jefferies

Jefferies analyst Kevin Grundy says two-week sales growth in U.S. Nielsen channels improved sequentially for key home and personal care companies Colgate-Palmolive (CL), Church & Dwight (CHD) and Clorox (CLX), as well as beverage companies Monster Beverage (MNST), Coca-Cola (KO) and Dr Pepper Snapple (DPS). While overall growth remains tepid, sequential improvement in December for consumer spending, including staples, has been more upbeat, Grundy tells investors in a research note titled "Party Like It's 1999? Not Quite, But US Nielsen HPC/Bevs 2-Week Data Improves." The analyst favors shares of Church & Dwight, Procter & Gamble (PG), Dr Pepper and Monster.